Cutter guard and ledger plate



E. A. BOE

CUTTER GUARD AND LEDGER PLATE Jul 3, 1928. I 1,675,634

Filed May 18, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. A. BOE

CUTTER GUARD AND LEDGER PLATE July 3,.1928.

Filed May 18, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

mama, BOE, or wA'rroBD c1112, noarrn maxed;

cu'r'rnneunm Ann LEDGEZB, nun.

Application filed Kay 18,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mowing machine cutters, and particularly to the guard fingers and ledger plates thereof. i y 7 In the majority of devices of this character, now in use, the ledger plate is either riveted to the guard finger, or bolted thereto. In the former case labor, and loss of time are experienced, in removing a broken, ordulled W ledger plate, and replacing it with a new one. In the latter case, the ledger plate becomes loosc, in time, and causes damage to the entire cutting mechanism.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide novel means for securing a ledger plate on a guard finger, which obviates the use of rivets or bolts, and which can be easily and quickly secured in place,

' or be removed, without the need for any special tools.

Another ob'ect is to provide a guard finger and ledger plate wherein the latter is held against loose play, laterally, under the action of the cutter bar.

Other objects and advantages willbe apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1v is a plan view of a guard fin er and ledger plate, a portion of the guard 11- ger being removed. 7

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, the ledger plate being removed.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, showing the manner of seating the stem of the ledger plate, and the locking key.

Figure 5 is a plan View of another form of the device.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure? is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 7-7 of Figure 5, enlarged.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 to 4, 10 represents the guard finger, in the forward end of the ledger plate seat of which there is formed an opening 11. In the center of the rear transverse rib 12, of the guard finger, there is formed a notch 13, the lower portions of the side walls of which are disposed in downwardly converging relation, at 14,

rear. smai' No. 192,419: g

"derbeveled, asaat 15,"t o provide the shou ders 1'6." Extending forwardly from the notch 13, as a continuation thereof, and. into the ledger plate seat; 17, is a recess 18. The ledger-"plate comprises the tapering body I portion 19,-having the lug orprojection 20,

on its forward, or smaller end, which lisengaged 1n the before-mentioned opening 11.

Formed on the-lower face =of the wider, or

rear" ended the ledger plate is a .lug 21,

whidh prdjects rearwardly from said end, i

and has its side walls downwardly convergmg, at 22, for proper engagement with the lower portions of the walls of the notch 13. That portion of the lug 21, which lies forwardly of the wider end of the led er plate, is seated within the recess 18, w en said plate is properly disposed on the seat 17. It Wlll also be noted that the rear end of the lug 21 is beveled to conform to the bevel of therear face of the rib 12. A key 23, consisting of a block of metal, is beveled on its opposite side edges, at 24, and is disposed on the shoulders 16, beneath the under-beveled wall portions 15, said key bearing on the upper face of the lug 21, whereby to hold the same, and consequently the ledger plate, in proper position on the guard finger, the forward end of the plate being retained by the lug 20, engaged in the opening 11. The forward side of the rib 12 is cut out to form a recess, bounded by the terminal shoulders 24, and in said recess the rear end of the ledger plate is seated, whereby to effectively prevent any tendency toward loose play, sidewise, of the plate, on the seat 17. In the upper face of the key 23 there is formed a depression 25, in which to place the end of a nail, or like instrument, while the operator inclines the nail slightly forward, toward the pointed end of the guard finger, and taps the said nail with a hammer. This causes the projection of the key out of the recess, and permits the lifting of the ledger plate from its seat, and withdrawal thereof rearwardly from the guard finger. The key is effectively prevented from accidental displacement from the recess by reason of the disposition of the cut ter bar in the transverse groove, of the guard finger, rearwardly of the rib 12.

Referring to the form shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, it will be noted that the notch 13 is not as deep as the notch 13, and thatthe lug 21 is correspondingly thinner.

There is formed, however, a similar under beveled seat 16, for the reception of the key block 23'. The recess 18 is omitted from the seat 17', the lug 21 being disposed in the plane of the lower face of the ledger plate 19'. The forward edge of the key block 23 is formed with a notch 26, forthe proper inclination of the key block ,rmoV:

ing tool.

- What is claimed is:

Y 1. A guard finger having a ledger plate seat and a transverse rib rearwardly of said go seat, said rib having a central notch the relation to .said lug.

Walls of which incline, and a ledger plate onthe said seat and having a lug engaged in said notch and having its side portions inclincd in correspondence with the walls of the.notch, and a locking key engaged in the notch above the lug.

2. A guard finger having a ledger plate seat and a transverse rib rearwardly of the seat, said rib having a central notch, the lower portions of the walls of said notch being downwardly convergent, the upper portions of said walls being underbeveled, a

ledgerplate on the seat and having a lug engaged in the lower portion of said notch, and a key having beveled edges engaged with the underbeveled walls in retaining In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

ENDRE A. BOE. 

